Sunday, April 29

A Simply Tempting Tempeh Sandwich

It's hard to take a good picture of your dinner at night.

A savory tempeh sandwich with vegan calamari and vegan ranch dressing is an easy solution for a quick dinner. A killer baguette, roasted red peppers and tasty greens like arugula or watercress will make average sandwiches seem fancy, so I always like to have them on hand.

My very favorite baguette is from Crumb Brothers. It's rolled in fennel, poppy, and sesame seeds before it's baked in gas-fired hearth oven. Breaking into this baguette is heaven! It's nice and crusty on the outside and soft inside. It reminds me of the creme brulee scene in 'Amelie'.

Crack!

Making tempeh for the sandwich is a no-brainer. A lot of people are hesitant to use tempeh because it's weird; once you get used to the way it looks, it will be your favorite protein to make at home. It's chewy and satisfying and you can use it in all kinds of stuff like tacos, breakfast scrambles, in marinara with pasta, and even to make 'bacon'.

Simply Tempting Tempeh I like this recipe for sandwiches, but it's also good with rice.

Cut the tempeh in shapes you like. Place it in saute pan and cover with water. Simmer tempeh until the water is gone, about 15 minutes. I like to have a glass of wine right now. :)Once the water is gone, add a drizzle of olive oil in the pan and brown the tempeh on medium heat (you can omit the oil, just use veggie broth or water!). Add a few squirts of tamari and watch out! The pan gets a little smoky. Add two minced garlic cloves, and a squirt of fresh lemon juice. Keep your eye on it; this is hardly an exact recipe. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

Add to a sandwich filled with your favorite toppings, like Vegenaise! Pour another glass of wine and tuck in.